Citi Field No. 7 subway line running after fire

Service on the busy No. 7 train resumed late Monday night in Flushing after a small subway track fire stranded baseball fans leaving Citi Field, authorities said early Tuesday.

The fire started about 10:40 p.m. at the 103rd Street station, said Deirdre Parker, a spokeswoman for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority.

That was just before the Home Run Derby contest ended at a packed Citi Field, where the No. 7 train is the main subway line to and from the ballpark.

Service resumed shortly after 11:35 p.m., Parker said.

Fans who were waiting for the train filed out of the crowded stadium, and posted pictures and comments on Twitter, showing and describing a crowded but orderly mass of people on the subway platform.

People were packed on the subway platform, the LIRR ticket sellers were mobbed and stranded ballgame attendees were trying to figure out whether the bus, rail, cab or even walking a bit was the best way to get home.

David Kalan, 28, of Long Island City, Queens, said early Tuesday that he couldn't even turn around on the platform to go down to street level. "I was irritated," he said, "but from my perspective, everybody was just resigned to the fact that there was nothing you could do unless you wanted to walk two miles to the next subway station that was working."

Kalan added, "That thought crossed my mind for about four seconds, but I was sweaty and gross enough after sitting for hours in this weather."

No injuries were reported, Parker said.

More than half an hour after the blaze was reported, an FDNY spokesman said firefighters were extinguishing the flames and waiting for MTA officials to assess the damage.

The No. 7 line had been shut down in both directions from 74th Street to Main Street, Parker said.

Riders had been advised to take the Long Island Rail Road or the Q66 bus. No other details were immediately available.